Samuel



UNITED srarns PATE:

OFFICE...

SAMUEL S; SHERWOOD, OF NEWv YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AD ALEXANDER DOUGLAS, OF SAME PLACE.

SKELETON SKIRT.

To all whom 'it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL S.. SHER- WOOD, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in the Attachment of the Tapes or Vertical Supports to the Hoops of Skeleton Skirts, the construction and operation of which I have described in the following specication and illustrated in its accompanying drawings with suiiicient clearness to enable competent and skilful workmen in the arts to which it pertains or is most nearly allied to make and use my invention.

My said invention consists in the combination of the device hereinafter described for securing the tapes against lateral slip upon the hoops, with the device hereinafter described for securing the hoops from vertical slip upon the tapes, by which I secure a firm and substantial union of the parts at a trifling expense, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows:

Figure l, is a side elevation of a skirt which embodies my improvements. Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation on an enlarged scale, of a hoop with the tapes or braids attached. Fig. 3 is a vertical section also enlarged, showing the junction of the tapes with the hoops more clearly. Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation reverse to Fig. 2, and on the same scale. Fig. 5 represents the needle with which the work is done, and may be considered an edge elevation. Fig. 6 is a plan of it.

It has been a source of great annoyance and trouble to properly secure the tapes of skeleton skirts to the hoops, and the present modes of attaching them, besides being very unsatisfactory, are also very considerably expensive, especially in the present styles of skirts which require a much larger num-A ber of hoops than have been formerly used. Among the necessities then of a proper attachment are strength and durability, simplicity and cheapness.

In constructing skirts according to my inode I generally prefer to use braids for the vertical fastenings instead of tapes, inasmuch as they are more elastic, and allow a greater opening of the interstices without rupture. Besides this, as the fibers are in them, in one sense, all longitudinal, they are stronger, and therefore in that respect better than tapes, and especially so for such a construction as mine.

l, l, are the hoops, and 2, 2, are the braids or vertical supports which sustain the hoops in their proper position. These are sewed into the web or covering which surrounds the hoops, by the use of a needle represented in Figs. 5 and 6, the curve near the point of the needle enabling the operator to keep close to the hoop by placing the inside of the curve of the needle next the hoop. This connection to the hoop prevents the tapes or braids from slipping laterally upon it.

The braids are secured to the hoops by first sewing each braid through the coverings of the hoops, as more clearly shown in A Figs. 3 and 4, and then passing it over the hoop and sewing it through the center of itself close to the hoop as represented, which prevents the hoop from slipping down out of place, its passage through the web' on the hoop being shown at 3, and its passage through itself being shown at 4. (See Figs. 2, 3, and 4.)

It might at first impression seem that this mode of fastening must rupture, and consequently weaken, both the web on the hoop and the braids which form the vertical supports, but it is found that by a proper construction of t-he needle the threads may be made to change their position sufiiciently without breaking to allow the passage of the needle with the braid, and thus by the simple means described, a simple and durable fastening is produced at a less expense of material, and a much less cost of construction than any other fastenings now known to the public.

In attaching the vertical braids to the lower hoops, they are sewed through the covering of the hoops in the same manner that they are upon the other hoops, and the end may be secured by a tag as shown, or by any other means which may be found convenient.

By sewing the tapes themselves through the covering of the hoops they are prevented from slipping laterally upon the said hoops in any other way except by slipping the web bodily which covers the hoops, and this it can not do to any practical disadvantage. I am aware that tapes have been stitched to the covering of the hoops with thread, but as the strength of the stitches thus employed are the only support given by that mode of attachment, against lateral slipping, it does not -by any means give the strength and stability which is secured by my mode of construction, and especially Will this effect be apparent When it is considered that in mine the tape or braid is passed bodily through the Web which surrounds the hoop,

and thus the entire strength of both, or nearly so, is made available for the purpose. Having thus fully described my said invention, I claim- The combination of the device above de- 

